5.5–8 A supplement to Lev 6.1–7 for the case in which the injured party has died and there is no next of kin.
5.8 Next of kin, lit. “redeemer.” See Lev 25.25–26, 48–49; Num 35.12. Ram of atonement. See Lev 6.6–7.
5.9–10 An instruction allowing Israelites to earmark their donations for individual priests (see Lev 7.7–9, 14, 32–33; cf. 7.10, 31).
5.11–31 The instruction for a woman who is suspected of adultery.
5.12–14 Vv. 12–13 describe a wife who has in fact committed adultery, although there is no proof available. Is unfaithful to him uses the same Hebrew phrase as breaking faith with the LORD in v. 6. V. 14 describes a husband who is jealous without knowing whether his wife has in fact committed adultery. This instruction, then, concerns two types of cases in which a woman’s guilt or innocence cannot be proven by the usual means.
5.15 An ephah is estimated to be around 15 liters, or about half a bushel. Oil and frankincense (or oil alone, Lev 2.4–7; 14.10, 21; Num 6.15) were usually poured on a grain offering, and the grain is usually choice wheat flour, not barley flour (Lev 2.1; 6.14–15; cf. Lev 5.11).
5.16 Before the LORD, probably before the altar of burnt offering in the court surrounding the tabernacle (see note on 3.29, 31; 1 Kings 8.31–32).
5.17 Holy water. See Ex 30.17–21, 28–29. An earthen vessel can be broken after use so that its contents do not pollute or endanger (see Lev 6.24–28; 11.33; 14.5, 50; 15.12). Dust…tabernacle is presumably thought to be powerful because of its association with the tabernacle.
5.18 Dishevel the woman’s hair, a sign of mourning in Lev 10.6; 21.10, and of uncleanness because of skin disease in Lev 13.45.
5.19–22 The woman suspected of adultery must take an oath that she has not been unfaithful (see Ex 22.10–11). It is on the basis of this oath that the ordeal in vv. 23–28 operates. If she has sworn falsely, the water of bitterness (v.19) will have an immediate negative effect on her body; if what she has sworn is the truth, there will be no effect.
5.21 The LORD make…your people. See Job 30.9; Jer 29.21–23. Uterus drop, womb discharge. The symptoms the woman is warned of seem to describe a prolapsed uterus.
5.22 “Amen, amen” signals the woman’s acceptance of the consequences of a false oath, the equivalent of taking an oath that she has not committed adultery. A guilty woman would hesitate to take the oath. See also Deut 27.15–26; Neh 5.13.
5.23–28 The ordeal. The water of bitterness (vv. 23–24) will test the truth of the woman’s oath.
5.23 The priest writes on something that would allow the writing to dissolve in water. The water then carries the force of the curse. See Jer 51.59–64; Ezek 3.1–4.
5.24 The bitterness is etymologized as causing bitter (pain), presumably to a guilty woman only. (See Ex 32.20, 35.) V. 24 (perhaps vv. 23–24) is anticipatory, as the entire procedure is spelled out in vv. 25–27.
5.25 On elevating the guilt offering, see Lev 14.12, 21, 24.
5.26 For a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion, see Lev 2.2, 9, 16 (there translated “token portion”).
5.28 The punishment for the one who swears falsely is a condition that precludes bearing children.
5.31 The husband will not be punished for putting even an innocent wife through the oath and ordeal; it is his right to ask for the procedure. The wife’s punishment or lack of it will depend on the outcome of the ordeal.
NUMBERS 6
The Nazirites
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When either men or women make a special vow, the vow of a nazirite,a to separate themselves to the LORD, 3they shall separate themselves from wine and strong drink; they shall drink no wine vinegar or other vinegar, and shall not drink any grape juice or eat grapes, fresh or dried. 4All their days as naziritesb they shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.
5All the days of their nazirite vow no razor shall come upon the head; until the time is completed for which they separate themselves to the LORD, they shall be holy; they shall let the locks of the head grow long.
6All the days that they separate themselves to the LORD they shall not go near a corpse. 7Even if their father or mother, brother or sister, should die, they may not defile themselves; because their consecration to God is upon the head. 8All their days as naziritesc they are holy to the LORD.
9If someone dies very suddenly nearby, defiling the consecrated head, then they shall shave the head on the day of their cleansing; on the seventh day they shall shave it. 10On the eighth day they shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 11and the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for them, because they incurred guilt by reason of the corpse. They shall sanctify the head that same day, 12and separate themselves to the LORD for their days as nazirites,d and bring a male lamb a year old as a guilt offering. The former time shall be void, because the consecrated head was defiled.
13This is the law for the naziritese when the time of their consecration has been completed: they shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, 14and they shall offer their gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, one ram without blemish as an offering of well-being, 15and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of choice flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil, with their grain offering and their drink offerings. 16The priest shall present them before the LORD and offer their sin offering and burnt offering, 17and shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of well-being to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest also shall make the accompanying grain offering and drink offering. 18Then the naziritesf shall shave the consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair from the consecrated head and put it on the fire under the sacrifice of well-being. 19The priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them in the palms of the nazirites,g after they have shaved the consecrated head. 20Then the priest shall elevate them as an elevation offering before the LORD; they are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is offered. After that the naziritesh may drink wine.
21This is the law for the naziritesi who take a vow. Their offering to the LORD must be in accordance with the naziritej vow, apart from what else they can afford. In accordance with whatever vow they take, so they shall do, following the law for their consecration.
The Priestly Benediction
22The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
24The LORD bless you and keep you;
25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
27So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
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a That is one separated or one consecrated
b That is those separated or those consecrated
c That is those separated or those consecrated
d That is those separated or those consecrated
e That is those separated or those consecrated
f That is those separated or those consecrated
g That is those separated or those consecrated
h That is those separated or those consecrated
i That is those separated or those consecrated
j That is one separated or one consecrated
6.1–21 The temporary Nazirite vow.
6.2 For women’s vows, see also 30.3–16. On the Nazirite, see also Judg 13.2–14; 16.4–31; 1 Sam 1.11; Am 2.11–12.
6.3–4 Nazirites must abstain from all products of the vine; cf. the Rechabites (Jer 35
; 2 Kings 10.15–28). Other vinegar, lit. “vinegar from (any) intoxicant.” Even Samson’s pregnant mother was to abstain from intoxicants and other grape products (Judg 13.4, 7, 14). See also 1 Sam 1.11; Am 2.11–12. All their days as nazirites (vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 12), instructions for a temporary naziriteship, unlike Samson’s and Samuel’s, which were lifelong.
6.5 Locks…grow long. The Nazirites’ uncut hair was their most important feature. See vv. 7, 9, 18 and the story of Samson’s naziriteship (Judg 13.5; 16.4–31). (See also Lev 25.5, 11, where the unpruned vine is called in Hebrew nazir.)
6.6–7 Like the high priest, Nazirites were to avoid contact with a corpse, even of a close member of the family (see Lev 21.10–11; cf. vv. 1–3).
6.9–12 Accidental contact with a corpse requires purification and rededication.
6.9 Suddenly implies there was no time for the Nazirite to avoid contact. Seventh day. See 19.11–12, 19.
6.10–12 Even priests who were contaminated by contact with a corpse were not required to undergo such a purification (see 19.11–12; cf. Ezek 44.25–27; see Lev 12.6–8; 14.10–32; 15.13–15, 28–30 for similar purification rituals). Sanctify the head, in preparation for a new vow of naziriteship, beginning the period of separation over again (v. 12).
6.13–20 The instruction for the ritual upon the completion of the Nazirite vow.
6.14–17 Regulations for the burnt offering are in Lev 1, for the sin offering in Lev 4.1–5.13, for the offering of well-being in Lev 3, and for the grain offering in Lev 2. For drink offerings, see Ex 29.40; 30.9; Lev 23.13. The extent of the ritual indicates the seriousness of the transformation from a state of consecration back to a mundane life.
6.18 The sacrifice of hair is not uncommon among the world’s religions. Here the hair must be burned, put on the fire, because it is holy (see Lev 7.16–17; 19.5–8).
6.20 See Ex 29.26–28; Lev 7.32–34; 10.14–15.
6.22–27 The ancient and lovely priestly benediction that appears here need not be connected with its immediate context; it is in general a function of the priesthood to bless the worshiping community; see Lev 9.22–23; Deut 10.8; 21.5; 2 Chr 30.27; Ps 118.26.
6.24–26 Portions of this blessing appear on two tiny silver scroll amulets found in a tomb in Jerusalem from the seventh or sixth century BCE.
6.25 The shining face of the Lord is a sign of protection (Pss 4.6; 31.16; 44.3; 80.3; 89.15; cf. Deut 31.17–18).
6.26 The lifting up of the Lord’s countenance is a sign of favor; the Hebrew is similar in Gen 19.21; 32.20; Job 42.8–9; Mal 1.8–9. Peace, i.e., well-being, wholeness.
6.27 Putting the Lord’s name on the Israelites implies ownership; see Deut 12.5; 28.10; Jer 7.10–11; 14.9. This command may have been taken literally, i.e., by wearing the name of God as part of an amulet (see note on 6.24–26).
NUMBERS 7
Offerings of the Leaders
1On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, 2the leaders of Israel, heads of their ancestral houses, the leaders of the tribes, who were over those who were enrolled, made offerings. 3They brought their offerings before the LORD, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; they presented them before the tabernacle. 4Then the LORD said to Moses: 5Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each according to his service. 6So Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites, according to their service; 8and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the Merarites, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9But to the Kohathites he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulders.
10The leaders also presented offerings for the dedication of the altar at the time when it was anointed; the leaders presented their offering before the altar. 11The LORD said to Moses: They shall present their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.
12The one who presented his offering the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah; 13his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 15one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16one male goat for a sin offering; 17and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, presented an offering; 19he presented for his offering one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 21one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, as a burnt offering; 22one male goat as a sin offering; 23and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites: 25his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 27one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28one male goat for a sin offering; 29and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites: 31his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 33one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34one male goat for a sin offering; 35and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites: 37his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 39one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40one male goat for a sin offering; 41and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites: 43his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 45one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46one male goat for a sin offering; 47and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites: 49his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50one golden dish weighing ten shekels,
full of incense; 51one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52one male goat for a sin offering; 53and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites: 55his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 57one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58one male goat for a sin offering; 59and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjaminites: 61his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 63one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64one male goat for a sin offering; 65and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites: 67his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 69one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70one male goat for a sin offering; 71and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
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